Collapsible crate.



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COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2. 19M.

1,189,614. Patented July 4,1916.

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CO LLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2. I914.

Patented July 4, 1916.

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ARNOLD NELIUS, OF NEW HYDE PARK, NEW YORK.

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July a, mic.

Application filecvficcember2, 1914. Serial No. 875,145.

To all u: 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, ARNOLD NELIUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Hyde Park, in the county of Nassau, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the, same.

This invention relates to a collapsible crate.

An object of the invention is to provide a crate which may be so folded that it will present a very compact bundle and therefore be conveniently transported and stored when not in use.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the device. that when the parts are in their opened positions there will be no tendency for the parts of the device to have movement relative to each other, and thus. the crate will be particularly rigid during use.

A further object of the invention is to 7 construct the crate in such manner that the folding or extension of the parts thereof will be very readily accomplished, and wherein the lock for maintaining the top to the body portion will also maintain all of the movable parts in their operative positions.

lVith these and other objects in View, such as will appear as the description progresses, my invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts as set forth in and falling within the scope of the ap-' pended claims.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the crate, constructed in accordance with my invention, in open position. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof in the same position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing one end of the crate partly folded. Fig. 4 is a fragmental view showing the manner in which the ends are hinged to the back and front of the crate. Fig. 5 is an end elevation showing the sides folded and the remainder of the parts started to folded position. Fig. G is a sectional view of the crate when folded. Fig. 7 is a fragmental plan view of the crate folded. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the crate folded.

Referring to the drawing wherein like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the several views :The embodiment of my device herein shown and described is of rectangular formation and I wish it to be here understood that I may,

change the proportions and details of con struction of the device without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention.

The device comprises a bottom 1 which consists of elongated spaced bars 2 and 3 between which extend a plurality of slats 4, the latter being rigidly secured to the said bars 2 and 3. Pivotally secured to the said bars 2 and 3 and extending upwardly therefrom when the device is in operative positionare' vertical bars 5 and 6 which are mounted on trunnions 7 on the said bars 2 and 3.

Extending between the bars 5 is a bar 8 which has trunnions 9 in the ends thereof, the said trunnions extending through the bars 5 so that the bar 8 may have rotative movement on the .said bars 5. The other bars 6 are connected by a cross bar 9' in a similar manner, the trunnions 10 extending through the said bars 6. Extending between the bars 5 and 6 at each end of the device and pivotally mounted on the trunnions of the bars 8 and 9 are end bars 11.

Extending between the bars 5 is a plurality of slats l3'which are rigidly secured thereto and are arranged to form the back of the device, while extending between the front bars .6 are a plurality of similar slats 14L which are rigidly secured to the said bars and form the front of the crate.

Each end of the crate comprises a strip 15 which has trunnions 16 on the ends thereof, which trunnions extend into apertures in the bars 2 and'3 so that the strip may have move ment with relation thereto.

A plurality of slats 17 are secured to the outside of each of these strips and are braced together at their upper ends by a cleat 18. The lengths of these slats 17 are such that the ends thereof will be in alinement with the upper edge of the bar 11 and the combined thickness of one of the slats 17 and the cleat is equal to the thickness of the bars 5 and 6.

Secured in spaced relation to the bar 8 is a plurality of strips 19 which form the top of the device and which are secured together at their other ends by a cleat 20, the ends of which cleat, when the crate is in its operative position, bears against the cleats 18 of ing the L-shaped projection 22 and the lower projection being for the purpose of operating the latch. In the lower portion of this latch is a hole 26, while in the plate 24 is a spring pressed lug 27 adapted to be projected into the said hole when the latch IS in engagement with the plate 21.

Assuming that the bars are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to fold the crate, the cover is raised and the 7 ends pushed downwardly on their pivots, as indicated in Fig. 3, until they lie flat against the inner faces of the slats 4. At this time the front of the crate is pushed backwardly about the trunnions 5 as pivots which motion carries the back of the crate in the same direction by virtue of the connection by the bars 11 between the front and back. This motion is continued until the bars 5 and 6 on each end of the crate lie in alinement.

At this time the connecting bars 11 lie against the outer face of the bars 5 and overlap onto the outer face of the bars 6,

the bottom and ends of the crate lying beneath the front thereof. After this operation has been accomplished the bar 8 is swung about the trunnions 9 as a pivot and the slats 19 forming the top-are folded down so that they will lie against the slats 13 forming the inner face of the back of the crate, the cleat '20 at this time fitting between the lower bar 2 of the back of the device and the upper bar 9 of the front of the device. This relation of parts will be clearly understood by an inspection of Fig. 6 of the drawing.

By this construction it will be readily seen that I have provided a crate which may be so folded as to present a very compact and fiat package so that it may be stored or transported with the use of an exceedingly small space. Furthermore I have so con structed the device that when the parts thereof a're in their extended positions and the device is operable as a crate, there will be no possibility of the crate accidentally collapsing inasmuch as the material within the crate, by exerting an outward pressure on the ends thereof, will "prevent the collapsing of the body portion of the crate, inasmuch as on these ends depends the rigidity of the construction.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention, I have merely done so for the sake of convenience and I do not wish to be limited to that particular embodiment as it is obvious thatv numerous changes may be made in the de tails of construction thereof without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claim. What I claim is A collapsible crate comprising a bottomconnecting bars and the ends of the cover.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses. ARNOLD NELIUS Witnesses:

AnoLr Hanson, JOHN TIERLEMANN.

copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by dressing the Commissioner of Patents Waxhington, D. O." 

